Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures designed to help mothers return to their pre-maternal figures. Most often, these procedures are performed following child bearing years and include surgery to enhance the breast and abdomen. Breast enhancement may include a breast augmentation, mastopexy (breast lift), or a combined augmentation mastopexy. An abdominoplasty is also performed to re-establish the feminine contour of the waist and abdomen.

Breast Changes:

Many women find that childbearing may create irreversible changes to breast tissue. Whether or not women choose to breastfeed, breast tissue proliferates during pregnancy in preparation for lactation. This may create a significant increase in breast volume that may persist in the early postpartum period. Unfortunately, this tissue will often involute resulting in breasts that have lost their youthful lifted contour. Stretch marks may occur, and volume that existed in the superior pole of the breast may now be found in the lower pole.

Abdominal Changes:

Postpartum abdominal changes may be dramatic. Volume and hormonal changes during pregnancy combine to relax the skin, fascia, and muscle of the abdominal wall. The expanding uterus sometimes contributes to the separation of abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis). The relatively rapid expansion of abdominal skin may lead to unsightly stretch marks and wrinkles. Hips and flanks may loose their feminine contour due to hormonally regulated fat deposition occurring during pregnancy. While child-bearing is a beautiful and natural phenomenon, it’s effects may wreak havoc on the female figure. Fitness regimens are helpful and recommended; these efforts fail to tighten loose skin and fascia.

What Can Be done?

In general, aerobic exercise and a balanced diet will help many to achieve their goal of maintaining an attractive figure. Despite a disciplined regimen, however, many find their desired figure to be unattainable. When this is the case, contouring of the breast and abdomen can be safely achieved on an outpatient basis. These procedures are tailored to each woman’s frame and personal goals.

Recovery:

The length of recovery depends on the extent of the procedure and often differs with each individual. When an abdominoplasty and breast augmentation are performed in combination most women require 10-14 days away from work or other responsibilities.

Abdominoplasty requires the insertion of drains beneath the abdominal skin that are removed as their output declines. Patients are asked to wear an abdominal binder that is similar to a girdle for four weeks after surgery.

Breast augmentation involves less discomfort than abdominoplasty. When performed alone, approximately 3 days recovery are required. Patients are discharges with pain medications and antibiotics. Most often, they return to the office the day after surgery.